Report Fish Disease’ App

Why is in news? Shri Parshottam Rupala to launch the ‘Report Fish Disease’ App developed by ICAR- National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBFGR) under National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD)

With a view to strengthen the farmer-based disease reporting system and for improving the reporting of aquatic animal diseases in the country, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, will launch the Report Fish Disease(RFD) App.

The app has been developed by ICAR-NBFGR under National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD), funded under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.

Benefits:

The RFD app will help the farmers in reporting incidence of diseases in finfish, shrimps, and molluscs on their farms with the field level-officers and fish health experts.

This shall help farmers in getting the scientific advice for efficient management of disease.

The data regarding the diseases will be stored on temporal & spatial scale and can be used for mapping the disease cases.

The App would support farmers in improving farmer-based reporting, getting scientific advice, and reducing losses due to diseases, thereby increasing farmers’ income. Also, Fish Disease Reporting App shall have a massive impact on fish disease management, promoting early detection, rapid response, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.

It will contribute to the sustainability and resilience of aquaculture systems by minimizing the negative impacts of fish diseases on fish population, industry, and ecosystems.

Background:

Aquaculture sector is witnessing an impressive growth over the years and at present, total exports earnings from the sector are approximately Rs.57586.48 crores (2021-22).

However, the diseases are the major constraint to the growth of the aquaculture.

Surveillance for aquatic animal diseases is essential for early detection of diseases, thereby minimizing their impacts.

Early detection of diseases is important for eradication and containment.

Many cases of diseases in aquaculture go unreported due to unavailability of the field-level disease reporting mechanism.

Therefore, there is a necessity of a mechanism that can connect farmers, field-level officers, and fish health experts.

National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases:

It is implemented by Department of Fisheries since 2013.

Its emphasis on strengthening farmer-based disease surveillance system, so that disease cases are reported at once, investigated and scientific support is provided to the farmers.

Report Fish Disease app was launched under the NSPAAD.

It aims to connect directly with the district fisheries officers and scientists for technical assistance regarding fish diseases and get a solution to the problem.